Lionel Messi: I’d have Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney at Barcelona

Lionel Messi has rolled out the welcome mat for Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney to come and join him at Barcelona, but concedes he’s unlikely to link up with the duo any time soon.

The electric form of Tottenham ace Bale and the undoubted ability of Manchester United’s out-of-favour Rooney has not gone unnoticed on the Argentine superstar, who admits he would love to see both players on his side.

‘Wayne Rooney and Gareth Bale are both great players, they are doing so well for their clubs,’ said Messi when asked about the pair.

‘And I always want to play with the best players. But I have to be careful with what I say because I can’t see them leaving their teams soon. But of course I want to play with the best players.’

Lionel Messi speaks to mark the launch of the Messi Gallery by adidas (Picture: Getty)

The four-time World Player of the Year is facing elimination from this season’s Champions League, with Barca trailing 2-0 to AC Milan going into the second-leg at the Nou Camp, but Messi is confident the Spanish giants can turn the tide.

‘Why can’t we score three when they scored two in Italy?’ he added.

‘That’s what everyone expects from us and this is what we are going to try to do. Milan will be difficult but we can do it. We all have to do more. We have to show we can play better, like we did before.’